LIFT 106http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift
Thu, 05 Feb 2015 14:11:15 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1Saved By The Bell Reunionhttp://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/saved-bell-reunion/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/saved-bell-reunion/#commentsThu, 05 Feb 2015 14:11:15 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=23177Jimmy Fallon is doing his show from L.A. this week and he decided to take us back to his high school. We think they did a fantastic job re-creating the iconic Bayside High and we can’t believe how everyone looks the same as they did back when the show aired! Watch it below, it’s awesome!!

]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/saved-bell-reunion/feed/0United State of Pop 2014http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/united-state-pop-2014/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/united-state-pop-2014/#commentsWed, 03 Dec 2014 20:28:25 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=23159Every year, DJ Earworm takes the biggest songs of the year and mixes them together in awesome fashion. This year he doesn’t disappoint, check it out below. Click here to see his mashups from previous years.

]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/united-state-pop-2014/feed/0Donations Neededhttp://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/donations-needed/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/donations-needed/#commentsSat, 10 May 2014 16:09:53 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=23115...Read More]]>Summit Thrift & Treasure in need of donations - The FIRC’s thrift stores; Summit Thrift & Treasure in Dillon & Airport Rd. in Breckenridge are in need of donations. The stores accept gently used clothing, linens and kitchen items. Donations are tax-deductible and are accepted from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday at both stores. For more information visit SummitFIRC.org
]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/donations-needed/feed/0Help with reforestation by planting seedling treeshttp://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/help-reforestation-planting-seedling-trees/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/help-reforestation-planting-seedling-trees/#commentsThu, 20 Feb 2014 22:15:42 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=9337...Read More]]>It may be winter but it’s not too early to think about planting seedlings for next spring! Summit County Extension & the Colorado State Forest Service are partnering to provide local landowners with low-cost native seedling trees. Orders will be accepted until April 18, 2014, with seedlings available for pick-up in mid-May. Native seedlings provide a low-cost option for reforestation, creation of windbreaks and wildlife habitat. Order early for the best selection. Details: 668-3595.
]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/help-reforestation-planting-seedling-trees/feed/0Donate to Summit County Careshttp://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/donate-summit-county-cares/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/donate-summit-county-cares/#commentsThu, 20 Feb 2014 22:14:06 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=9336Help locals in need this season by donating to Summit County Cares. 100% of your donation goes directly to pay rent, utility, grocery and medical bills for locals. Donations will benefit the Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC), Advocates for Victims of Assault, Summit Community Care Clinic and Social Services. Donate online at Summit Foundation.org
]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/donate-summit-county-cares/feed/0Make a Difference – Become a Mountain Mentorhttp://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/make-difference-become-mountain-mentor/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/make-difference-become-mountain-mentor/#commentsThu, 20 Feb 2014 22:09:46 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=9335...Read More]]>Mountain Mentors are looking for volunteers – especially guys! There are over 61 kids on the waiting list for a mentor in Summit County!! It’s easy! Just volunteer 8 hours a month, be yourself, have fun & make a huge difference in a local kid’s life J To volunteer or find out more call Sarah 668.9184.
]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/make-difference-become-mountain-mentor/feed/0Volunteers needed for great cause!http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/volunteers-needed-great-cause/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/volunteers-needed-great-cause/#commentsThu, 20 Feb 2014 22:07:53 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=9334...Read More]]>Northwest Rocky Mountain Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is looking for volunteers in the Grand County area that are interested in making a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child. Volunteers will be trained to help assure the child’s needs are met and they are placed in a safe home – training starts in March. To volunteer: call 531-6160 or nwrm casa.org.
]]>http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/community/volunteers-needed-great-cause/feed/0Snowshoeing in Breckenridge: Sallie Barber Mine and True Romance Minehttp://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/snowshoeing-in-breckenridge-sallie-barber-mine-true-romance-mine/
http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/articles/snowshoeing-in-breckenridge-sallie-barber-mine-true-romance-mine/#commentsMon, 19 Aug 2013 16:00:51 +0000http://alwaysmountaintime.com/kift/?p=5166By Deb Stanley, Examiner.com

There are lots of historic trails in the Breckenridge area and the trek to the Sallie Barber Mine may be one of the easiest. The hike is 1.4 miles each way with just 400 feet of elevation gain. While it’s not “easy” for some people, it is easy compared to most trails in the Colorado high country.

The trek starts on French Gulch Road, just 3.8 miles from Highway 9 (see directions below). The trailhead has a sign with a map and space for about 15 vehicles.

Walk up French Gulch Road about 0.1 miles to a trailsplit. Turn right onto another wide road, #2651. There’s a slight drop down, then the trail begins climbing up. As you’re hiking here, enjoy the mountain vistas and the sunlight, because after 0.25 miles, the road travels into the forest and the shade.

The next 1.15 miles or so are a peaceful trek in the morning before the crowds arrive. The road/trail is wide enough for 2 to 3 people to walk side-by-side and talk. Just step out of the way of any cross-county skiers coming downhill. The elevation gain is slight, but it can take your breath away because the trail starts at 10,335 feet.

After 1.4 miles, the trail comes to the top of small hill and you see it — the ore bin, loading shaft and headframe of the Sallie Barber Mine. Signs at the site explain that the mine opened in 1880. Miners found lead carbonate and sulfide ore with zinc. The zinc sulfide was too expensive to mine so the mine was abandoned. Two years later, another group of miners stuck galena and carbonates that had lead and silver. By 1899, the mine had made $1,000 and was getting larger. The mine was abandoned in 1911, but restarted for a short time during World War I to mine zinc.

While the mining structure is impressive, imagine what’s underground. Miners worked on four levels — the lowest is 365 feet below the surface. Even in the snow, you should be able to spot the machinery from the steam plant, including the boiler and the hoist. There are three informational signs around the mine. From the sign on the backside of the mining building, you may spot Keystone Ski Resort in the distance. Look below the sign, and you may see an old abandoned car.

After you explore, it’s time to decide if you want to turn around or go further. There’s a 7.5 mile loop in the area called the Nightmare on Baldy Mine tour. If that’s too much, how about the extra mile (each way) to the True Romance Mine?

As you came up the trail to the Sallie Barber, there was another trail to the left behind the informational sign. You may spot an old cabin here under the snow.

A very small sign on this trail says, “Nightmare on Baldy.” This is the trail to the True Romance Mine.

As you hike up the hill, you may come across several trails, don’t turn off. You need to climb pretty much straight up the hillside about a third of a mile and 300 feet in elevation. There, the uphill trail stops at a trail that goes right and left. Go left.

It’s about two-thirds of a mile on this old road to an open area with a single pole that says “True Romance.” This is the site of the old mine. On the right side of the trail, you may spot the opening of an old mine shaft — it just depends on how much snow has fallen.

When you’re done enjoying the views, return the way you came.

Details: The hike to the Sallie Barber Mine is 2.8 miles with 400 feet of elevation gain. The hike to the Sallie Barber and True Romance mines is 4.8 miles with about 800 feet of elevation gain.

Directions: From Interstate 70, take Highway 9 toward Breckenridge. Near town, turn left on Huron Road/CR 450. (There was a popular 7-Eleven there in 2013.) Take Huron Road about 0.4 miles to Reiling Road and turn right. Drive 0.7 miles and turn left on Franch Gulch Road. Take French Gulch Road 2.7 miles to the trailhead.

Stunning. That’s a good word to use for the views of the turning leaves along Castle Creek Road on the drive to the Cathedral Lake trailhead. Nearly every turn along the 12 mile drive from Aspen to the trailhead has yet another stunning view.

Even the trailhead parking lot is surrounded Aspen trees. Come in mid-to-late September and the trees should be showing off their fall colors – bright yellow with a possible tinge of orange or red. Come too late and the leaves may be brown or even gone in the wind.

The trail starts next to a signboard. The trail immediately takes hikers right into the middle of an Aspen grove. Look left, right, forward or behind and there are colorful Aspens everywhere. Even the ground cover is yellow, orange and red. When the trees open up, enjoy the yellow Aspen groves that cover the nearby hillsides.

The trail winds through colorful groves for quite some time, but there’s another treat along the way — the loud, crashing sound of Pine Creek. In fact, take a few steps off the trail when you hear the loudest sounds or when you see social trails leading to the river and you’ll likely be treated to a beautiful cascade. We saw impressive waterfalls at 0.64 miles and 0.75 miles from the trailhead, shortly before a sign telling hikers they were entering the Maroon Bells Snowmass wilderness.

1.1 miles from the trailhead, the switchbacks begin. The first set are pretty easy. Around 1.3 miles from the trailhead (depending on how much exploring you’ve done to see waterfalls/cascades), you’ll come to a valley with a gorge. This is a great spot to see waterfalls because of the numerous cascades in the cut.

The bad news? While you’ve climbed 1,000 feet at this point, the trail is about to get a lot steeper. Keep going. Enjoy the aspens and a quarter mile away, you’ll suddenly get a good view of the craggy peaks in the distance. Soon there’s a meadow with a creek in it and then the climbing begins again.

Once you hit the red scree field at around 2.1 miles, you’re hitting the home stretch. Cross the rock to the final set of REALLY STEEP switchbacks. How steep? 210 feet of elevation gain in 0.15 miles. Each switchback is short, but there’s 8 of them and they’re STEEP!

After the switchbacks, it’s just a few steps to a trail split, turn left for Cathedral Lake. And good news, from here, it’s less than a half mile to to the lake and the trail is mainly level with a few ups and downs.

When you get to the lake, the work pays off. The lake is large and sits in a bowl below several peaks. That’s Cathedral Peak to the west-northwest and Conundrum Peak to the south.

This is a lake worth spending some time at so enjoy!! And if you decide you want more, consider hiking to the top of nearby Electric Pass. It’s about 2 miles and 1,500 feet to the top of the pass from the lake.

Details: The hike to the lake and back is 5.6 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain, but add some extra distance for getting closer to the waterfalls and exploring at the lake.

Directions: From Aspen, take Castle Creek Road 12 miles to a signed turnoff for Cathedral Lake trailhead. It’s another 0.6 miles on a dumpy, dirt road to the trailhead.

Every town has its restaurants that one should probably stay away from and of course, restaurants that rise above all expectations of food, service, quality and atmosphere. Every establishment will excel in certain areas, run a mediocre coarse in some and hopefully, not always, falter from time to time. A good, well established restaurant is very similar to a living organism. The overall impression and features that give it its character will always be the same but depending on the time of the day, week, who’s working etc. the mood can change frequently making for a wonderful experience or slighting the impression.

Vail has plenty of quality restaurants that more then hold their own on the world stage of gourmet dining. Many are chef-owned like a decent, high-end establishment will be and a few others are directed by the resort that they reside in. In either case, service, food and quality are rarely if ever, compromised.

The following list though certainly NOT exhaustive is indicative to what Vail has to offer. In each case, the food is superior, service is generally remarkable and quality is an orchestration of multiple reviews and opinions and no matter what selection one makes, there is no wrong choice in pleasing the palate.

The first place that comes to mind and has been voted Vail’s best restaurant for four years running is the contemporary French-American hide-away, La Tour. La Tour is directed by chef and sommelier, Paul Ferzacca. The dining room is open nightly at 5:30pm and reservations are generally recommended during high-season. La Tour is known for their impeccable service and as far as the cuisine goes, the Veal Sweetbreads, Pan-Roasted Duck and the Crème Brulée Flambée are exceptional. La Tour is located in Vail Village along E. Meadow Drive.

Lancelot’s (favorite!) has a considerably more relaxed and less pretentious atmosphere. The overall feel is casual comfortable although blue-jeans would not be recommended and suit & tie would be over-doing it. In business since 1969, there’s one reason to dine at Lancelot’s, Prime Rib. They offer three varieties: the Knight’s Cut, the thicker King Arthur’s Cut and the ubiquitous, Surf & Turf. In terms of Prime Rib, one absolutely cannot do any better anywhere in the Vail Valley. Lancelot’s is located in Vail Village next to the Children’s fountain.

Located inside the Lodge at Vail is the Italian restaurant, Cucina Rustica. The atmosphere is absolutely wonderful and downright romantic. The dining area retains a warm and tranquil feel of home. The Buffalo Carpaccio and Spit-Roasted Bronzino Puttanesco are standout dishes.